scholarly journals Fostering Cultural Sustainability in Early Childhood Education through a Neighbourhood Project

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5203
Author(s):  
Aihua Hu ◽  
Siv Ødemotland
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Early Childhood Teacher ◽  
Education For Sustainability ◽  
Cultural Sustainability ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Qualitative Research Methodology

Culture is the life blood of a society, which influences people’s worldviews, values, and behaviours. Research has confirmed that children’s participation in culture helps develop thinking skills, builds self-esteem, and improves resilience. This paper aims to explore how a purposely designed project can foster cultural sustainability through a case study of a neighbourhood project conducted in Chinese and Norwegian kindergartens. A qualitative research methodology is utilised. Major data sources are an overall project plan prepared by one of the Norwegian university researchers, project descriptions and PowerPoint presentations from the kindergartens, as well as workshop notes taken by one researcher during the workshop, complemented and triangulated by the follow-up reflective narratives from three kindergartens. Qualitative content analysis and comparative analysis are used to analyse the collected data. Findings have indicated that kindergartens hold similar views on culture and cultural stainability. Though the actual activities are diverse and implemented in different ways, the goal of fostering cultural sustainability is achieved in all participating kindergartens. Children not only have gained knowledge of their neighbourhood and problem solving and social skills but also have developed sense of belonging and emotional link with their local culture through the active participation. More importantly, this study has indicated that purposely designed projects/activities can promote early childhood education for sustainability and quality of ECE. It is thus recommended cultivating student teachers’ and kindergarten teachers’ competence to design projects/activities integrating different dimensions of sustainability in early childhood teacher education

scholarly journals Early Childhood Education for Sustainability Through Contradicting and Overlapping Dimensions

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 374-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liv Torunn Grindheim ◽  
Yvonne Bakken ◽  
Kjellrun Hiis Hauge ◽  
Marianne Presthus Heggen
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Education For Sustainability ◽  
Cultural Sustainability ◽  
United Nations Educational ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Cultural Organization

Purpose: The article investigates how to make a broader understanding of sustainability relevant for early childhood education (ECE) guided by the four dimensions suggested by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization: ecological, economic and social/cultural sustainability, and good governance. Design/Approach/Methods: Previous research on ECE on sustainability is discussed in relation to the four dimensions and to Biesta’s concepts of socialization, qualification, and subjectification. Findings: The investigation finds that all four dimensions are necessary in ECE for sustainability, and it suggests how the dimensions can be understood, how they may overlap, and how they can be contradictive. Originality/Value: The article depicts how children’s opportunities to engage and to disturb established ways of thinking can be facilitated through all dimensions.

scholarly journals Sticky stories from the classroom: From reflection to diffraction in Early Childhood Teacher Education

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Rigmor Moxnes ◽  
Jayne Osgood
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Early Childhood Teachers ◽  
Early Childhood Teacher ◽  
Early Childhood Teacher Education ◽  
Childhood Education

This article aims to challenge the prominence of reflexivity as a strategy for early childhood teachers to adopt by taking Norwegian early childhood teacher education as its focus. Observed micro-moments from a university classroom generate multilayered, multi-sensorial entangled narratives that address what reflection and diffraction are and what they do – where students, the educator, materiality, space and affects intra-act. Furthermore, the article explores the ways in which teacher educators and students in early childhood teacher education become-with the classroom and materiality, and, in doing so, ideas about professionalism in early childhood education are opened out. By identifying the limitations of reflection, the authors go on to explore what working with diffraction might offer to reach alternative understandings. By placing a focus on seemingly unremarkable and routine events in the life of an early childhood teacher education classroom, the authors offer other, potentially more generative ways to think about student teachers and their further professional practice in kindergartens.

scholarly journals Dancing as Moments of Belonging: A Phenomenological Study Exploring Dancing as a Relevant Activity for Social and Cultural Sustainability in Early Childhood Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 8080
Author(s):  
Maria Grindheim ◽  
Liv Torunn Grindheim
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Sustainable Living ◽  
Aesthetic Experiences ◽  
Cultural Sustainability ◽  
Childhood Education

Individuals’ capacities to contribute to more sustainable living are deeply influenced by their early life experiences. Hence, there is a need to discover which experiences are relevant to young children’s contemporary and future contributions to more sustainable living. Perceiving children as aesthetically oriented to the world and their sense of belonging as a core experience for social and cultural sustainability, and using the example of dancing, we investigate how such a sense of belonging can be supported through aesthetic first-person experiences. This article is therefore structured around the following research question: How can adults’ experiences of themselves, others and their sense of belonging—when dancing—inform explorations of ways to foster embodied and aesthetic belonging for social and cultural sustainability in early childhood education (ECE)? Drawing on a phenomenological study, we analyse interviews with four dancers, who differ in age, gender and dance genre. Our analysis reveals their experiences when dancing as being in a meditative state, having a sense of freedom and feeling body and mind as one, described as an overall “different”, resilient way of being and belonging in a social context. Our findings indicate that facilitating moments of sensible and bodily awareness can support a non-verbal understanding of oneself and others, as well as arguments for promoting aesthetic experiences while dancing as relevant to sustainable practices in ECE.

scholarly journals Exploring Military Artefacts in Early Childhood Education: Conflicting Perspectives on Cultural Sustainability, Belonging and Protection

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2587
Author(s):  
Åsta Birkeland ◽  
Liv Torunn Grindheim
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Local Area ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Cultural Sustainability ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Chinese Kindergarten ◽  
Insight Into

Social and cultural sustainability is outlined as creating surroundings that include and stimulate positive interactions, such as promoting a sense of community and a feeling of belonging to a community, by being safe and attached to the local area. Artefacts chosen in early childhood education (ECE) institutions are integrated parts of the culture in which the ECE institutions are embedded; artefacts, thus, are understood as serving belonging and cultural sustainability. The study examined what insight into cultural sustainability could be surfaced in conflicting perspectives about military artefacts in ECE. Focus group interviews were conducted with Chinese and Norwegian graduate students and ECE researchers, during which photographs of a Chinese kindergarten where military artefacts and toys were highly represented. Conflicting perspectives on military artefacts among the participant surfaced how belonging are closely intertwined with protection and where to belong: locally, nationally or internationally. The skeptical approach to military artefacts is challenged by awareness of different ways to promote national pride and entanglement among generations. The findings indicate a need for more research on conditions for belonging and the normative complexities of artefacts in cultural sustainability.

scholarly journals Pre-Service Early Childhood Teachers’ Preparedness to Teach Education for Sustainability

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-96
Author(s):  
Anita Croft
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Early Childhood Teachers ◽  
Education For Sustainability ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Sustainability Practices ◽  
Preparedness To Teach

The benefits of beginning Education for Sustainability (EfS) in early childhood are now widely documented. With the support of their teachers, young children have shown that through engagement in sustainability practices they are capable of becoming active citizens in their communities (Duhn, Bachmann, & Harris, 2010; Kelly & White, 2012; Ritchie, 2010; Vaealiki & Mackey, 2008). Engagement with EfS has not been widespread across the early childhood sector in Aotearoa New Zealand (Duhn et al., 2010; Vaealiki & Mackey, 2008) until recently. One way of addressing EfS in early childhood education is through teacher education institutions preparing students to teach EfS when they graduate.

scholarly journals Manajemen Ekstrakurikuler Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini (PAUD)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 369-380
Author(s):  
Erni Munastiwi
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Extracurricular Activities ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Library Research ◽  
Qualitative Research Methodology ◽  
The Subject

This research examines the management of extracurricular education early childhood. It is backed by that implementation of extracurricular activities on early childhood education face varieties of constraints in management. Therefore, extracurricular activities, early childhood education is supposed to be managed thoughtfully. The management of extracurricular activities are good and true will effect positively to the quality of early childhood education. The qualitative research methodology is library research. Method of data collection by collecting reference books the subject matter and book supporters. Data analysis techniques are content analysis. Results of the study show that the extracurricular management, early childhood education is implemented through the following four stages: (1) plan a needs analysis, types, background, goals, budget, materials, assessment tools, schedule, facilities and infrastructure, output criteria instructors, (2) organize the Division of duties, authority and responsibilities of the personnel of extracurricular activities, (3) carry out extracurricular activities appropriate planning and organizing, and (4) evaluate extracurricular activities.

scholarly journals Perspectives on Leadership in Early Childhood Education and Care Centers Through Community of Practice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsi-Marja Heikkinen ◽  
Raisa Ahtiainen ◽  
Elina Fonsén
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Education And Care ◽  
Analysis Design ◽  
Joint Enterprise

<p>In this article we focus on the perceptions of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) directors, leaders on leadership through the concept of community of practice and examine how it could be applied in the Finnish context during times of change. Data on the perceptions of 15 ECEC centre directors were collected via a focus group interview. The study employed qualitative content analysis design. The results indicate that the formal leader has an important role in leading the community. Moreover, building flexible leadership structures and supporting all community members in developing the shared pedagogical leadership are the building blocks of the future leadership as a joint enterprise. </p>

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